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VA/DoD CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR OPIOID THERAPY FOR CHRONIC PAIN

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<strong>VA</strong>/<strong>DoD</strong> Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain<br />

III. Recommendations<br />

The following recommendations were made using a systematic approach considering four domains as per<br />

the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach as detailed<br />

in the section on Methods and Appendix E. These domains include: confidence in the quality of the<br />

evidence, balance of desirable and undesirable outcomes (i.e., benefits and harms), patient or provider<br />

values and preferences, and other implications, as appropriate (e.g., resource use, equity, acceptability).<br />

Given the relevance of all four domains in grading recommendations, the Work Group encountered<br />

multiple instances in which confidence in the quality of the evidence was low or very low, while there was<br />

marked imbalance of benefits and harms, as well as certain other important considerations arising from<br />

the domains of values and preferences and/or other implications. In particular, the harms due to the<br />

potential for severe adverse events associated with opioids, particularly overdose and OUD, often far<br />

outweigh the potential benefits. As such, in accounting for all four domains, these factors contributed to<br />

Strong recommendations in multiple instances.<br />

# Recommendation Strength* Category†<br />

Initiation and Continuation of Opioids<br />

1. a) We recommend against initiation of long-term opioid therapy for<br />

chronic pain.<br />

b) We recommend alternatives to opioid therapy such as selfmanagement<br />

strategies and other non-pharmacological treatments.<br />

c) When pharmacologic therapies are used, we recommend nonopioids<br />

over opioids.<br />

2. If prescribing opioid therapy for patients with chronic pain, we<br />

recommend a short duration.<br />

Note: Consideration of opioid therapy beyond 90 days requires reevaluation<br />

and discussion with patient of risks and benefits.<br />

3. For patients currently on long-term opioid therapy, we recommend<br />

ongoing risk mitigation strategies (see Recommendations 7-9),<br />

assessment for opioid use disorder, and consideration for tapering when<br />

risks exceed benefits (see Recommendation 14).<br />

4. a) We recommend against long-term opioid therapy for pain in<br />

patients with untreated substance use disorder.<br />

b) For patients currently on long-term opioid therapy with evidence of<br />

untreated substance use disorder, we recommend close<br />

monitoring, including engagement in substance use disorder<br />

treatment, and discontinuation of opioid therapy for pain with<br />

appropriate tapering (see Recommendations 14 and 17).<br />

5. We recommend against the concurrent use of benzodiazepines and<br />

opioids.<br />

Note: For patients currently on long-term opioid therapy and<br />

benzodiazepines, consider tapering one or both when risks exceed<br />

benefits and obtaining specialty consultation as appropriate (see<br />

Recommendation 14 and <strong>VA</strong>/<strong>DoD</strong> Substance Use Disorders CPG).<br />

a) Strong<br />

against<br />

b) Strong for<br />

c) Strong for<br />

Strong for<br />

Strong for<br />

a) Strong<br />

against<br />

b) Strong for<br />

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Reviewed, Newreplaced<br />

Reviewed, Newadded<br />

Reviewed, Newreplaced<br />

Reviewed,<br />

Amended<br />

Reviewed, Newadded<br />

February 2017 Page 7 of 192

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